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The First Baptist Church of Hammond is a fundamentalist Independent Baptist church in Hammond, Indiana. It is the largest church in the state of Indiana and one of the largest churches in the United States. Though founded in 1887, it was under Jack Hyles' leadership from 1959-2001 that it became a megachurch, one of the first megachurches in the United States. It has a steady weekly attendance of around 20,000. It also operates Hyles-Anderson College (an unaccredited bible college) and K-12 schools. Jack Schaap, Hyles' son-in-law, succeeded as pastor after Hyles' death in 2001.

First Baptist Church also hosts three national conferences. The first Pastors' School invites pastors, assistant pastors, Christian leaders, school administrators, and Christian laymen to a week of training and learning. Youth Conference, is held in mid-July and is for the youth and teenagers of Christian churches nationally. The final conference of the year, held every October, is the Christian Womenhood Spectacular for Christian women of all ages.

The church has been involved in a few controversies during its first 50 years, including a conviction of sexual molestation by one of its deacons in 1993, and accusations of adultery and financial misconduct made by a former employee.

History

First Baptist Church was founded in November of 1887 by Allen Hill of Jennings County, Indiana. Its first meeting was on 14 November 1887 with 12 members on the 28th. However, it originally met in the Morton House Hotel which stood on what is currently the 100 block of Willow Court. Allen Hill's pastorate was short lived at approximately 4 months.

By April 1888, B.P. Hewitt became the church's permanent pastor and Allen Hill went on to start several other churches. Needing more room, Hewitt moved the church's meeting place to the Hohman Opera House at the corner of State and Hohman. In 1889, the church erected its own structure for $2,358 when Marcus Towle, Hammond's first mayor and member of FBC, donated land on Sibley Street to the church.

Subsequently, on 3 January 1901 Pastor E.T. Carter proposed a new building, and the first service was held on 14 April 1901. On the 27th of November of that same year, Pastor Carter announced his resignation for a job at the Central Baptist Orphanage in Michigan.

Ministries and Outreach

First Baptist Church has several outreach ministries, including Hyles Publications, Hyles-Anderson College, Fundamental Baptist Missions International, Hammond Baptist Schools, City Baptist Schools, Chicago Baptist Academy, Memory Lane Cemetery, Christian Womanhood Magazine, First Baptist Church Little League, Nursing Home Ministry, Sailor Ministry, Truck Driver's Ministry, Bus Ministry, Blind Ministry, Pathfinder Ministry (Educable Slow), Homeless Ministry, Rescue Mission, Public School Ministry, Inner City Chapel Ministry, and Deaf Ministry. The church also has several services in Spanish and some oriental languages.

Controversy and criticism

Teachings

The Richmond Times quoted ex-Hyles follower and later critic, Robert Sumner, who said "Jack Hyles, runs his church in an authoritarian, almost 'cultist,' manner." Sumner, like most others with strong independent religious views, disagrees with a number of doctrinal issues with Hyles. Sumner, who has a personal website which he publishes and edits himself, called The Biblical Evangelist, was also quoted criticizing Hyles in another newspaper. This newspaper documented disputes that Sumner had with Hyles. Each of Sumner's charges were refuted by Hyles, who termed the accusations as "lies'. According to the Richmond Times Sumner's article had over 100 allegations.

In 1993 a news report "recapped a sermon in 1990 in which Hyles pretended to pour poison into a glass and asked an associate pastor, Johnny Colsten, to drink from it. Colsten said he would." Furthermore, "The WJBK report said the sermon has the "ring of Jonestown to it - the mass suicide in Guyana in 1978 by followers of cult leader Jim Jones." In fact "WJBK also reported that Hyles, though never claiming to be God, has convinced a lot of people he is the next best thing to Him." Also the station "showed footage during its report of" Hyles "brandishing a rifle form the pulpit, along with "people with guns and walkie-talkies patrolling the outside of the church at times."

Jack Hyles

On May 25, 1989 The Chicago Tribune reported that Victor Nischik, a former deacon of the First Baptist Church, accused Hyles of committing adultery with Jennie Nischik, Nischik's wife and Hyles' long time assistant. On May 28 the Tribune repeated this and added Nischik's allegations of questionable financial dealings. Hyles replied by saying the charges were "false" and indicating that "he has given 'hundreds of thousands' of dollars to needy friends over many years but has kept no records of the transactions." Hyles was not ever charged with a crime.

In 1989 allegations were first made public in the "Godfrey Letter," sent by Evangelist George Godfrey to several hundred graduates, pastors, and former students of Hyles-Anderson college. The letter did raised questions about improprieties between Jack Hyles and his married assistant, Jenny Nischik. Husband of Jenny and Hyles' church member, Victor Nischik wrote a book about the scandal titled The Wizard of God. This work detailed the relationship between Jack Hyles and Jenny Nischik and charged Hyles with alienating the affections of Jenny Nischik from her husband. Reportedly, Hyles "told Vic that he could have Beverly (Mrs. Hyles) with the same relationship Hyles enjoyed with Jenny."

Within a year of Nischik's work, the Northwest Indiana Times reported "The pamphlet, Fundamental Seduction: The Jack Hyles Case, written by Voyle A Glover, delves into Texas-based evangelist Robert Sumner's allegations of moral laxity, doctrinal heresy and financial impropriety by Hyles." The work also explored the evidence surrounding the relationship between Jack Hyles and Jenny Nischik and Jack's son, Dave Hyles', actions surrounding the death of of Dave's girlfriend's 18-month-old son Brent Stevens. In May 24, 2001 Glover was interviewed about his claims against Hyles by "The Channel 2 News" over the 1993 scandals.

AV Ballenger

In 1993 a First Baptist deacon was found guilty of molesting a seven year old during a Sunday school class. Chicago Sun-Times reported, "in March, 1993, a deacon at First Baptist, A.V. Ballenger, was found guilty of one count of child molestation dating from 1991." During a Sunday school class "a church worker reportedly witnessed the act and removed the girl from the room, police said." The Chicago Tribune in a 1991 article reported that Hyles was sued for $1 million by the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. The paper reported the "lawsuit claims Hyles and the church had not fulfilled their obligation to ensure that children were protected from harm during Sunday school." Furthermore, the lawsuit "claims the minister told the child's parents that Ballenger 'just liked little girls,' and, 'You don't have a case.'" The church settled the lawsuit out of court and the terms were not disclosed. At the trial three young women testified that Ballenger "had fondled them years ago." One of those girls testified that she was molested on the Hammond church bus. A former security officer at the church testified he saw Ballenger fondle a young girl in 1978 or 1979 in a Sunday school room after being called to the room by a female teacher. In 1993 Ballenger was sentenced to five years in prison.

The Northwest Indiana Times noted "regrettably, Hyles does not seem to think that Ballenger's conviction is something that should require the former deacon to be removed from any contact with church children. Hyles noted, "The family, the parents of the daughter should not have gone to court and they wouldn't have if a crooked lawyer hadn't got a hold of 'em. They shouldn't have gone to court. They should have come to me. That's what they did. They had only one witness. I told them in my office, I'm sorry, I cannot investigate a case unless there's two witnesses." After Ballenger was convicted of molestation and appealed, police witnessed him handing candy out of children at Hammond Bapitst. The Deputy Prosecutor Clarence Murray said "that the church has maintained 'a conspiracy of silence' by closing ranks behind Ballenger.

Detriot News and fall out

In May 1993, WJBK of Detroit, Michigan area news team, did a story called Preying from the Pulpit where it followed up on allegations of child molestation. The news report aired a six-part series stemming from child sexual abuse allegations last fall against deacon Mark Foeller and associate pastor Timothy Leonard, both Hyles graduates, of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor." The San Diego Union-Tribune noted "the news report found seven U.S. churches - all with ties to Hyles, it said - involved in sex scandals."

In the Chicago Sun-Times remarked that Hyles "disputed the latest reports point by point in a speech to Midwest ministers and businessmen, brought together by COMPASSION - Churches Organized & Mobilized for Preservation and Safety for Sunday Schools in Our Nation." Hyles also claimed out that one person said to have attended Hyles-Anderson College had not really attended the school. Also Hyles spoke at a church in Denver, Colorado Hyles to defend himself

The prosecuting attorney for Washtenaw County, Michigan also took interest in the First Baptist ties to the North Sharon Baptist Church attended the Ballenger trial. Soon after on May 14, 1993 "the FBI was asked to look into allegations minors were taken from Michigan to Northwest Indiana by employees or officials of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor for events sponsored by Hammond First Baptist Church." However, while the FBI concluded "there is insufficient evidence to probe allegations," Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the investigation as "open-ended." Furthermore, the article noted "The Rev. Timothy Leonard, North Sharon's associate pastor and a graduate of Hyles Anderson College of Schererville, was charged in Michigan with first- and second-degree sexual assault of children."

On May 14, 1993, soon after Preying on the Pulpit was aired, "the FBI was asked to look into allegations minors were taken from Michigan to Northwest Indiana by employees or officials of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor for events sponsored by Hammond First Baptist Church." The FBI concluded, "there is insufficient evidence to probe allegations." On Friday, May 19, 1993 Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the Hyles investigation as "open-ended." Jack Hyles said that he welcomed an investigation of the police and he attended a meeting with city officials to discuss it. Hyles emerged from the meeting saying that there was no investigation. Confirmation of this came on Wednesday, May 24, 1993, the Chief of Police detectives, Capt. Bill Conner was quoted in the Tribune saying that, "There is no investigation of the First Baptist Church of Hammond or Jack Hyles". On June 1, 1993 The Lake County (Indiana) prosecutor's office stated that it did not have any cases involving Hyles or the First Baptist Church of Hammond. On the same day, the Hammond Police Department reaffirmed the statement it made the previous month when it confirmed that there was no investigation of Hyles or the church.

Allegation of neligence

On December 8, 1997 Christianity Today reported that Hyles and his church, the First Baptist Church of Hammond, were being sued for "for negligence in connection with alleged sexual assaults on a mentally disabled church member over a six-year period" The lawyer for the woman, Vernon Petri, "says Hyles is a defendant because he failed to protect the woman", such that "controls have to be set to be sure things are conducted appropriately." However, Christianity Today pointed out that no criminal charges were ever filed in the case. Also, Hyles denied the allegations that either he or his church were negligent in the care of the woman in an October 12 advertisement in the Hammond Times.

According to the lawyer, "a church program instructor led her to a room and served as a lookout while two to three males raped her."The women developed a "serious" infection and doctors "found, embedded in her, a plastic object." "The "civil suit filed in Lake Superior Court in Gary claims the Chicago woman was "induced by agents" of the church in 1991 to ride a bus to attend Sunday."

Seeing eye dog controversy

On July 6, 1984, The Associated Press reported, Donald Baker "a man blind since birth says he's been told he cannot attend his church with a guide dog he acquired in February." Baker "was told by the church's pastor that he could not attend services with his dog Casey because it "would disturb others." Rev. Jack Hyles, was unavailable for comment, but the Rev. Keith McKinney "confirmed Baker no longer attends First Baptist but said he could make no official comment."

List of Pastors

References

1. ^ "Ed Briggs. Fundamentalists' House Displaying Widening Cracks" Richmond Times - Dispatch. Richmond, Va.: Jul 22, 1989. pg. A-9
2. ^ "Charges All Lies, Hammond Pastor Says," Chicago Tribune, May 28, 1989.
3. Ed Briggs. "Fundamentalists' House Displaying Widening Cracks." Richmond Times. Richmond, Va. Jul 22, 1989.
4. Victor Nischik. The wizard of God: My life with Jack Hyles. Buchanan, Mi.: Sychar Pub. Co., 1990.
5. Victor Nischik. The wizard of God: My life with Jack Hyles. Buchanan, Mi.: Sychar Pub. Co., 1990.
6. "By Debra Gruszecki. Church's alleged acts questioned. Local lawyer charges Northwest Indian Times October 22, 1991
7. Voyle A Glover. Fundamental seduction: The Jack Hyles case. Schrerville, In. : Brevia Pub., 1990.
8. Cite error: The named reference e was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
9. ^ "Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case," Chicago Tribune, Oct 16, 1991.
10. Baptism by innuendo Northwest Indiana Times May 19, 1993
11. "7 accused of abuse linked to preacher." The Grand Rapids Press. Grand Rapids, Mich.: May 17, 1993. pg. B.2
12. "7 accused of abuse linked to preacher." The Grand Rapids Press. Grand Rapids, Mich.: May 17, 1993. pg. B.2
13. "Preacher has links to molest suspects." The San Diego Union -Tribune. San Diego, Calif.: May 17, 1993. p. A.7
14. "Springs drive-by baptisms immersed in controversy" Bruce Finley, Denver Post Staff Writer. Denver Post. Denver, Colo.: Aug 22, 1993. pg. 7.C
15. ^ Debra Gruszecki FBI won't continue with church sex abuse probe. Not enough Northwest Indiana Times" May 19, 1993 Cite error: The named reference "FBI" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
16. "No Investigation of Church in Abuse Cases, Police Say" Chicago Tribune May 24, 1993
17. ^ Lehmann, Daniel J. "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out," Chicago Sun-Times, June 2, 1993. pg. 5
18. ^ "Baptist Megachurch Faces Sex Suit". Christianity Today. 2006. Retrieved 2006-05-01.
19. ^ Debra Gruszecki. Suit claims rape at church Northwest Indiana Times October 4, 1997
20. ^ "Blind Man Says Church Bans Him, After He Gets Guide Dog," The Associated Press, July 6, 1984.

External links

• First Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana– Official

Criticism

• The Jack Hyles Story by Robert Sumner -- Criticism of Jack Hyles
• Biblical Discernment Ministeries -- Criticism of Jack Hyles

• Megachurches
• Baptist churches
• Churches in Indiana
• Sex scandals
• Religious scandals